Rotary visible index apparatus and card



'7 Sept. 27, 1932. c. L. JOHNSTON ET AL ROTARY VISIBLE INDEX APPARATUS AND CARD Filed July 17, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I 209' E3g0 1.

ATTORNEYS.

2 7, 1,932. c. L. JOHNSTON ET Al ROTARY VISIBLE INDEX AESPARATUS AND CARD Filed July 17, 1931v '4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEYS.

Sept. 27, 1932. c. L. JOHNSTON ET AL v1,379,620

I ROTARY VISIBLE INDEX APPARATUS AND CARD Filed July 17, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet I5 downy/n 1 1 M A TTORNEYS.

Sept. 27, 1932. c.-L. JOHNSTON ET AL 1,879,620

ROTARY VISIBLE INDEX APPARATUS AND CARD Filed July 17, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 s. 7. I MJMW' W W U I a kg BZ INVENTORS.

{awn/w ATTORNEYS.

Patented Sept. 27, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

CLARENCE L. JOHNSTON, F HILLSIBOROUGH, AND MAX M. COHN, OF LOS GA'IOS,

CALIFORNIA ROTARY VISIBLE INDEX APPARATUS AND CARD Application filed July 17,

' generally improve and simplify the construction and operation of index apparatus of the character descrlbed; to provide an index apparatus in which a plurahty of cards are adapted to be arranged in alphabetical or numerical form and so supported that any card may be located and the indicia thereon displayed with a minimum of effort and time; to provide an index apparatus embodying an a endless carrier to which the index cards are quickly attached or removed; to provide a carrier on which the index cards may be closely packed to permit the handling of large numbers of cards; to provide means for imparting movement to the carrier and the index cards attached thereto; to provide means whereby the cards are automatically separated; to provide other means cooperat ing with the separating means for displaying the indicia on the cards when they are separated; to provide means of this character which spaces and displays the indicia on the cards during movement ofthe carrier to per-. mit the cards to be quickly identified and read; to provide indexcards which are adapted to receive indicia and entries of varying character; to provide index cards whichmay be readily handled in typewriters and similar machines when entries, etc., are to be made;

to provide an index card which is folded so as to increase its capacity for entries; and, further, to provide a folded index card so as to form a pocket for the retention of. one or more additional or' duplicate cards- The apparatus and the cards employed in conjunction therewith are shown-by way of illustration in the accompanying drawings, in which 7 Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus showing the cards in position thereon.

Fig. 2 is a central, vertical, cross section taken on line IIII of Fig. 1.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged view and side elevation of'the upper portion of the apparatus, said view showing the manner in which the 1931. Serial No. 551,504.

index cards are spaced and the mechanism whereby the indicia carrying surfaces are moved to display position.

Fig. 4: is a cross section of the belt or carrier to which the cards are attached.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the belt or carrier showing the manner of attaching an index card thereto, said view showing the rear face of a card.

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the belt or carrier showing a card attached thereto, said view showing the front face of the card.

Fig. 7 shows the cut and scored blank from which the card is formed.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of one of the index cards, said view also showing the manner in which a duplicate card may be inserted and retained.

Referring to the drawings in particularly Figs. 1 and 2, A indicates a base member on which is supported a frameconsisting of two side members or uprights such as indicated at B and C. 'Journaled in the lower portion of theuprights is a shaft 2, which is rotated by means of a hand crank 3 or the like, and secured on the shaft to rotate in unison therewith is a pulley 4.

Secured between the upper ends of the uprights is a non-rotating shaft 5 and secured substantially centrally of the shaft is a frame generally indicated at D, which consists of a central plate 6 and a pair of side plates 77 secured with relation to the central plate 6 and the shaft 5 through means of a bolt or detail and rivet such as indicated at-8. The central plate is recessed or forked in its upper surface to receive a pulley'or wheel 9 of small diameter, said wheel being journaled on a pin 10 so as to rotate freely thereon. Similarly journaled on pins 11 carried by the side plates 7 are a pair of small pulleys or wheels 12. The pulleys or wheels 12 function in unison with the pulley 4 as a support for an endless flexible belt or carrier generally indicated at End this in turn functions as a support for a plurality of index cards generally indicated at F. 1 a

The belt, see Figs. 2 and 4, is preferably constructed of soft rubber or the like. The outer edges, which are supported by the pulis punched as shown at 16 and scored along the lines indicated at,17.17, 1818, 1919, 2020. After cutting, punching and scoring, the card is folded along the-scored lines as shown in Fig. 8, thus providing a main back section 21 having the folded portion 22 on its lower edge. This portion is punched centrally as shown at 16 and when the portion 22 is folded a pair of recesses 23 are formed and similarly a pair of retaining lugs 24. The second section of the card is indicated at 25. It is bent on the scored line 1818 and also on the scored line 2020. The scored line 19-19 forms a bendable portion or surface 19a upon which the indicia of the card is to be applied, while the bent portion formed by the scored line 20--2O at the lower edge and indicated at 26 functions as a spacing member. In fact, it will be noted by referring to Fig. 8 that four thicknesses of paper are formed at the point indicated at 26 and two thicknesses at a point above the lower edge 27 of the card. This is important as will hereinafter be dscribed. It will also be noted that the scored line 20-20 or lower edge of the card section 25 projects into the opening formed by the punched out portion of the lower edge of the card, the portion which projects into the opening being indi-' cated at 28. This is also important as will hereinafter be described as it functions as a means for swinging or moving the indicia surface 20 to display position. I

In actual operation the cards are attached to the endless belt or carrier E as shown in Figs. 5 and 6, and being retained or secured with relation to the edges 14 of the belt by means of the recesses 23 and the lugs 24. A great number of cards maybeapplied in this manner and when the carrier is substantially filled with cards, the cards will assume the position shown in Fig. 1. The cards will, of course, be arranged alphabetically, numerically, or as desired, and means are provided for separating the cards when they pass over the upper pulleys 12 and other means are provided for moving the indicia surfaces into an angular position so that the indicia may be quickly andreadily observed and read. The main sections of the cards, as previously stated, are the sections 21 and 25 and the indicia surface is indicated at 19a. The main sections 21 and 25, togetherwith the indicia surface 19a, are normally concealed as the surfaces lief substantially parallel to each,

other as shown at 30, see Fig. 3, but as the belt or carrier passes over the upper pulleys 12 the cards tend to arrange themselves radially with relation to the axis of rotation of the pulleys 12 and due to the fact that they radially arrange themselves in passing around the pulleys, spacing between the cards is secured. The central portion of the belt or carrier indicated at 15 will at the same time pass over the central pulley 9. This pulley is disposed at a higher elevation than the pulleys 12 or in other words in an eccen tric position with relation to the same and as such causes displacement of the center portion 15 of the belt or elevation of the same. The central portion of the belt is in this manner pushed upwardly into the openings formed by the punched out sections in the lower edges of the cards, the belt engages the central portion 28 of the lower edges 20 of the sections 25 of the cards, pushing them outwardly and thereby causing the sections 25 of the cards to bend on the scored lines indicated at 19-19 and moving the indicia displaying surfaces 19a to the angular positions shown at 20a in Fig. 3 at the time when the cards have already been radially separated thus positioning the indicia where it can be quickly viewed and read whether the carrier or belt is moving or standing stationary,

One reason for forming the flap or bent section 22 at the lower edge of the main section of the card is to give double strength to the lugs indicated at 24, that is, these lugs will be formed of a double thickness of paper thus materially strengthening them and preventing tearing with relation to the edge of the belt. Another reason for forming the flap at the end of the main section is to provide an increased thickness of paper at a point above the lower edge 27 of the card and it is for the same reason that the flap 26 is formed at the lower edge of the section 25 of the card; At the point 26, four thicknesses of paper are provided while at the lower edge 27 of the card only two thicknesses of paper are provided. The function thereof is clearly shown in Fig. 3. The four thicknesses of paper occur between the lines indicated. at 32 and 33, while the two layer thickness of paper is formed between the line 32 and the innermost line 34. A spacing 35 is thus formed between the inner edges of the cards and when the belt and cards start to pass around the upper pulleys 12, their inner ends will move together and contact each other as shown at 36. If the spacings 35 were not provided between the cards, radial positioning of the cards would be impossible, hence by using small diameter pulleys at the upper end of the belt and by increasing the thickness of the cards between the lines 32 and 33 and, furthermore, by providing a spacing 35 between the inner edges of the cards radial positioning and separation of the cards while passing over the upper ulleys 12 is promoted and insured, and w en they are radially positioned theindicia surfaces 19a are automatically bentoutwardly and the indicia is thus displayed for almost instantaneous observation and reading.

The cards may be readily removed from the carrier by merely bending one of the lugs 2 k and then lifting that corner of the card upwardly and sliding the other lug out of engagement with the belt. When the card is so removed it may be flattened out as shown in Fig. 7 and it may thus be readily placed in a typewriter or the like for insertion of entries of any character. The folding of the card into two sections as described material ly increases the space for the data that may be applied and it'furthermore forms an envelope as shown in Fig. 5 into which oneor more cards such as shown at 40 may be inserted endwise. These cards may be duplicate cards or they may be cards upon which additional data may be applied. The manner of applying the cards to the belt permits them to be closely packed as shown in Fig. 1 and a large number of cards may thus beretained in a comparatively small space.

While certain features of the presentinvention are more or less specifically de scribed, we wish it understood that various changes may be resorted to within-the scope of the appended claims. Similarly, that the materials and finish of the several p rts employed may be such as the manufacturer may decide, or varying conditions or uses may demand.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is-- 1. In an apparatus of the character described, a. carrier, a plurality of index cards attached at their inner edges to the carrier, a scored bendable portion on the outer edge of each card adapted to receive indicia, and means for automatically actuating the scored portion of each card to move it to an angular position where the indicia will be displayed.

2. In an apparatus of the character described, a carrier, a plurality of index cards attached at their inner edges to the carrier, a scored bendable portion on the outer edge of each card adapted to receive indicia, means for automatically spacing the cards, and other means for automatically actuating the scored portion of each card when the cards are separated to move the scored portion to an angular position wherethe indicia is displayed.

3. In an apparatus of the character described, an endless movable carrier, a plurality of index cards attached to the carrier, a bendable portion on each card normally.

concealed and containing the indicia on the card, and means cooperating with the carrierwhereby the'bendable portions are automaticallyactuated to expose the'indicia.

4; In an apparatusofthe character described, an endless movable carrier, a plurality of index cards'attached to the carrier, a bendable portion on each card, which is normally concealed and which carries the indicia of thecard, means for separating the cards whenthe movable carrier and cards a v n assume a predetermined positlon, and other 'sectionbeing free andhavingascored bendableport-ion to receive the indicia ofthe card, and means 'engageable with the free section of each card whereby movement is imparted to bend the scored portions for the purpose of displaying the indicia. i

6. In an apparatus of the character described, an endless movable carrier, a plurality of index cards, each card being folded toform two sect-ions one section of each card being attached to the carrier andthe other section being free and having a scored bendable portion normally concealed and carry ing indicia for the card, means cooperating with the carrier to cause spacing of the cards when a predetermined position is assumed, and other means operable during the spacing operation to actuate and move the scored portion to a position where the indicia will be displayed. v V 1 7. In an apparatus of the character described, a flexible movable carrier, guide means whereby said carrier travels over a straight and a curved path, a plurality of index cards attached at their inner edges to the carrier, a scored bendable portion on the outer end of each card to receive indicia, said cards automatically assuming a radial position withrelation to the curved surface when the carrier passes over said curved surface thereby causing spacingv between the outer edges of the cards, andmeans whereby the scored bendable'indiciacarrying portions of the cards are automatically swung outwardly to assume angular display positions when the cards are spaced.

8. In an; apparatus of the character described, a frame, a shaft journaledin one end of the frame, a pulley secured on the V shaft, means for rotating the shaft and pulley, a pair of interspaced pulleys journaled in the'oppo'site end of the frame, a belt car- .ried by the first and second named pulleys,

a plurality of index cards attached at their inner edges to the belt and movable in'uni son therewith, a scored bendable flap on the outer edge "of each card to receive indicia,

and means cooperating with the interspaced recesses and a pulleys whereby the indicia carrying flap of each card is swung outwardly to display the indicia. I

' 9'. In an apparatus of the character described, a frame, a shaft journaled in one end of the frame, a pulley secured on the shaft, means for rotating the shaft and pulley, a pair of interspaced pulleys journaled in the opposite end of the frame, a belt carried by the first and-second named pulleys, a plurality of index cards attached at their inner edges to the belt and movable in unison therewith, a scored bendable flap on the outer edge of each card to receive indicia, a second flap attached to the indicia carrying flap and extending inwardly into engagement with the surface of the belt, and a wheel eccentrically journaled between the interspaced pulleys and engageable with the belt centrally of its outer edges to force the central portion of the belt outwardly when the belt is passing over the interspaced pulleys, said'outward movement of the belt forcingthe'second and first named flaps outwardly and causingthe first named flap to assume a; display position.

10. An index card comprising a main section, an indicia carrying section attached to one edge thereof andbendable along saidedge, and means for bending the indicia-V carrying section along said edge so that the indicia-carrying section will assume an angular display position with relation to the surface of the main section. V

11. An index card comprising a main section, an indicia carrying section attached to one edge thereof and extending from end to'end' of the main section, said indiciacarrying s'ection being bendable along said edge, and means for bending the indiciacarrying section along said edge to assume an angular display position with relation to the surface of the main section.

12. A plurality of index cards arranged in packed formation, a normally concealed indicia-carrying flap bendably attached to the outer edge of each card, and a second flap attached to the indicia flap and extending to a point adjacent the inner edge of each card.

13. A plurality of index cards arranged in packed formation, a normally concealed indicia carrying flap bendably attached to the outer edge of each card, and a second flap attached to the indicia flap and extending to a point adjacent the inner edge of each card, said second named flaps adapted to be engaged and forced outwardly to swing the indicia-carrying flaps about their bendable connections to an angular position to display the indicia.

14. An index card formed of a single blank of material and scored adjacent one edge to form a foldable flap, the foldable edge of said flapbeing punched out to form a pair of pair of cooperating retaining lugs. v v

. 15. An index card formed of a single blank of material and scored substantially centrally of its length to form'a main section and a second section, said sections being folded along the score line so that the sections will lie one against the other, said sections being scored along their lower edges to form a pair of flaps, one at the lower edge of the main section and one at the lower edgeof the second named section, said flaps forming together with the main and second sections an increased card thickness at a point slightly above the lower edge of the main sectio 16. An index card formed of a single blank of material and scored substantially centrally of its length to form a main section and a second section, said sections being folded along the score line so that the sections will lie one against the other, said main sec tion having a portion of its free edge cut away to form an opening, a retaining lug on each side of said opening, said section having its free edge extending into said open ing, a score line formed on the second section parallel to the first named score line and forming a bendable'section to receive indicia.

CLARENCE L. JOHNSTON. MAX M. OOHN. 

